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Paul Temple BBC Serials #18
Paul Temple and the Conrad Case (Radio Collection) by Durbridge, Francis (2004) Audio CD
Radio's smoothest sleuth and his glamorous wife solve a case of international mystery From 1938 to 1969 crime novelist and detective Paul Temple and his Fleet Street journalist wife Steve solved case after case in one of BBC radio's most popular serials.
They inhabit a sophisticated, well-dressed world of chilled cocktails and fast cars, where the women are chic and the men still wear cravats. And where Sir Graham Forbes of Scotland Yard always needs Paul's help with a tricky case.
The case this time involves Dr Conrad's daughter Betty, who has disappeared from her finishing school in Bavaria. Paul is invited by the police to go over there to help trace the missing girl. Initially, though, even he is baffled, since the only clue to the mystery is an unusual cocktail stick found in her bedroom.
Can Paul work it out? This CD edition also includes a bonus interview with Francis Durbridge.
Paul Temple and the Conrad Case was first broadcast on The BBC Light Programme from 2 March to 20 April 1959.
They inhabit a sophisticated, well-dressed world of chilled cocktails and fast cars, where the women are chic and the men still wear cravats. And where Sir Graham Forbes of Scotland Yard always needs Paul's help with a tricky case.
The case this time involves Dr Conrad's daughter Betty, who has disappeared from her finishing school in Bavaria. Paul is invited by the police to go over there to help trace the missing girl. Initially, though, even he is baffled, since the only clue to the mystery is an unusual cocktail stick found in her bedroom.
Can Paul work it out? This CD edition also includes a bonus interview with Francis Durbridge.
Paul Temple and the Conrad Case was first broadcast on The BBC Light Programme from 2 March to 20 April 1959.
Audio CD
First published January 1, 1959
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About the author
Francis Durbridge
329 books33 followersFrancis Henry Durbridge was an English playwright and author born in Hull. In 1938, he created the character Paul Temple for the BBC radio serial Send for Paul Temple.
A crime novelist and detective, the gentlemanly Temple solved numerous crimes with the help of Steve Trent, a Fleet Street journalist who later became his wife. The character proved enormously popular and appeared in 16 radio serials and later spawned a 64-part big-budget television series (1969-71) and radio productions, as well as a number of comic strips, four feature films and various foreign radio productions.
Francis Durbridge also had a successful career as a writer for the stage and screen. His most successful play, Suddenly at Home, ran in London’s West End for over a year.
A crime novelist and detective, the gentlemanly Temple solved numerous crimes with the help of Steve Trent, a Fleet Street journalist who later became his wife. The character proved enormously popular and appeared in 16 radio serials and later spawned a 64-part big-budget television series (1969-71) and radio productions, as well as a number of comic strips, four feature films and various foreign radio productions.
Francis Durbridge also had a successful career as a writer for the stage and screen. His most successful play, Suddenly at Home, ran in London’s West End for over a year.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
December 2, 2019
Review to follow tomorrow as I’m not around until then 😊
And now it is way past what was tomorrow, and i've just realised that I had not written my review.
So here goes. I remember watching the Paul Temple mysteries on TV back in the late 1960s/early 1970s with Francis Matthews in the starring role, and have fond memories. So when I "ran in" into a few Paul Temple audiobooks I thoughts I'd give 'em a go. And , well, they have been excellent.
I have focussed in terms of listening on the "Peter Coke" "Marjorie Westbury" dramatisations, which I have to admit have been both atmospheric and enthralling. This in particular took me back in time to the 50s (ok I only saw 3 months of the 50s, but remember as a child watching many 50s programs).
Funnily enough Pater Coke (pronounced Cook, not to be confused with the Pete Cook from Pete and Dud) sounds a lot like Francis Matthews , although I suppose that should be the other was around really.
This story focusses on the disappearance of a Doctor's daughter from her finishing school in Germany, and the chaos that ensues. Various people get dragged in to the mystery before Paul and Steve fight their way through the red herrings, outright lies and the murder attempts to a final solution.
I have to emphasise this is a full BBC dramatisation and not the book/story so it is an enjoyable 4 to 5 hours of nostalgia. I have to also add that this is dated in places, to me that is a positive as I enjoy nostalgic detectives, and understand/accept that things were different, both when this was written and when it was originally broadcast. However for some I know that it will seem both a little sexist and maybe non-PC in other ways.
That said I heartily recommended this audiobook/dramatisation to any crime drama addict who likes nostalgia.
And now it is way past what was tomorrow, and i've just realised that I had not written my review.
So here goes. I remember watching the Paul Temple mysteries on TV back in the late 1960s/early 1970s with Francis Matthews in the starring role, and have fond memories. So when I "ran in" into a few Paul Temple audiobooks I thoughts I'd give 'em a go. And , well, they have been excellent.
I have focussed in terms of listening on the "Peter Coke" "Marjorie Westbury" dramatisations, which I have to admit have been both atmospheric and enthralling. This in particular took me back in time to the 50s (ok I only saw 3 months of the 50s, but remember as a child watching many 50s programs).
Funnily enough Pater Coke (pronounced Cook, not to be confused with the Pete Cook from Pete and Dud) sounds a lot like Francis Matthews , although I suppose that should be the other was around really.
This story focusses on the disappearance of a Doctor's daughter from her finishing school in Germany, and the chaos that ensues. Various people get dragged in to the mystery before Paul and Steve fight their way through the red herrings, outright lies and the murder attempts to a final solution.
I have to emphasise this is a full BBC dramatisation and not the book/story so it is an enjoyable 4 to 5 hours of nostalgia. I have to also add that this is dated in places, to me that is a positive as I enjoy nostalgic detectives, and understand/accept that things were different, both when this was written and when it was originally broadcast. However for some I know that it will seem both a little sexist and maybe non-PC in other ways.
That said I heartily recommended this audiobook/dramatisation to any crime drama addict who likes nostalgia.
November 22, 2018
Höre mir momentan nochmal alle meine Paul Temple Hörbücher an. Eine ausführliche Rezension, die eigentlich für alle Fälle steht, gibt es hier: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Mein Lieblingsfall - auch deshalb, weil er teilweise in Bayern spielt.
Mein Lieblingsfall - auch deshalb, weil er teilweise in Bayern spielt.
July 17, 2021
Paul Temple goes to Bavaria, and amazingly, most people there appear to be English or speak remarkably good English. Hilarious...
Unfortunately, no big car crash but at least there are few bombs to make up for that.
Unfortunately, no big car crash but at least there are few bombs to make up for that.
January 13, 2013
Reread. Well, re-listened anyway.
June 3, 2023
My first foray into the Paul Temple audio dramas and a wonderful one at that! The banter between Paul and Steve is delightful (and also Steve! What a splendid name!), the plot intriguing without being too difficult to keep up with. Just enough action and drama to keep the story going without overloading the story.
Looking forward to listening to the rest of them going forward.
Looking forward to listening to the rest of them going forward.
June 25, 2017
These radio serials are always entertaining!
April 26, 2022
Another wild ride! It took me till the end part (8) to form a solid idea about the murderer. I had a hunch early on about the identity of the bad guy but dismissed the idea. Turns out my original hunch was right.
More bombs and near misses and parts are a little far fetched, but it’s fiction. :)
More bombs and near misses and parts are a little far fetched, but it’s fiction. :)
March 9, 2013
Okay, I did listen to way too many entries of this series this year. It was rather promising and interesting. After all the Temples visit Germany and everyone tries to hush up the disappearance of a young girl because no one wants to be talked about or to have the name of his establishment disgraced - which may or may not be a pretty accurate statement of the so called Zeitgeist back then.
That was until after nearly two third to three quater through the story there came the motiv, which was - yet again - drugs. First of all it was added almost as if on an afterthought. And second of all: I would not even know where to buy them or whom to ask and the Temples seem to bust one drug smugling ring after another... Were drugs even that popular back then? Fact is: the more I hear of those the more I crave a crime story where the people murder because of a personal motive and not because they want to gain money, more money and even more money...
Psychological reasoning might be a part of our Zeitgeist, but slowly but surely I find it rather lacking in those stories.
That was until after nearly two third to three quater through the story there came the motiv, which was - yet again - drugs. First of all it was added almost as if on an afterthought. And second of all: I would not even know where to buy them or whom to ask and the Temples seem to bust one drug smugling ring after another... Were drugs even that popular back then? Fact is: the more I hear of those the more I crave a crime story where the people murder because of a personal motive and not because they want to gain money, more money and even more money...
Psychological reasoning might be a part of our Zeitgeist, but slowly but surely I find it rather lacking in those stories.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 4, 2022
Entertaining lightweight mystery - good clean fun and reading. The characterizations aren't particularly believable but I don't think they are meant to be. Nice red herring thrown in to the mix as well to put you off the scent of the real culprit.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews